Conjugate heat transfer enhancement over heated blocks using airfoil deflectors

Abstract This study focuses on laminar air cooling of multiple blocks mounted in a channel, with airfoils placed above the blocks and used as vortex generators. The unsteady governing equations are solved by the finite volume method using the commercial CFD code Fluent®. The flow and temperature structures are analyzed in the whole channel in both solid and fluid phases for Reynolds numbers ranging from 500 to 1800. The vortex shedding flow generated by the successive airfoils penetrates in the inert-block cavity in addition to the flow directed toward the block face, resulting in significant heat transfer. The increase in Reynolds number leads to the amplification of the heat transfer rate. It is found that the rate of heat transfer improvement achieved exceeds 200% for all Reynolds number values studied.